Marino Faces Expectation Head-On in “Im Sorry Mom”
Marino has built a fast-growing independent career through alt-pop songs shaped by direct writing, emotionally charged production, and an increasingly recognizable point of view. Even while keeping his identity out of the spotlight, the artist has made the music itself the focus of a growing online presence, steadily reaching listeners through releases that often draw from personal experience. That trajectory reached a new level with “Devil in Disguise,” the breakout single that has now surpassed 200 million streams worldwide and earned an impressive Gold certification.
His latest release, “Im Sorry Mom,” shifts toward a more specific kind of personal conflict. Released June 12, the song examines what can happen when the future someone chooses no longer resembles the one their family imagined for them. Much of that tension comes from trying to reconcile those expectations with the direction that feels right for your own life. Here, Marino does not push the situation toward an easy resolution, allowing the desire for understanding and the need to keep moving to exist at once.
The subject fits naturally within a body of work that has continued to broaden as Marino’s profile has grown. His songs often approach experiences involving identity, relationships, and ambition with a directness that keeps the writing grounded and emotionally clear. That approach has helped individual releases continue circulating across streaming platforms and social media long after they first arrive.
As “Im Sorry Mom” introduces another side of his songwriting, Marino is also navigating what it means to reach a larger audience while remaining personally anonymous. Speaking with Stardust, he reflects on the story behind the new single, how that separation has shaped his relationship with listeners, and what he has learned from watching independently released music find an audience around the world.
“Im Sorry Mom” deals with wanting a future that does not fully match what your family may have imagined for you. Was writing it a way of making sense of that feeling, or did the message come from a place you had already spent a lot of time thinking about?
Marino: I’ve definitely already felt it for a long time, and honestly, the whole feeling itself is kind of a past-tense thing. I’m well past the point where I’ve proved to my family that college isn't the only route, but back in the day it was truly hard for them to understand how making money on the internet is a possible thing and can actually be a whole career. Maybe the song helped me put it into words better, but I’ve always felt this way deep down since I was like 13 years old.
There is a real mix of frustration, guilt, and determination in “Im Sorry Mom.” How did you work through those different emotions while writing the track, and was there one that stayed with you more strongly than the others?
Marino: I think that these three things kinda just showed up naturally within the song. I didn't even have a clear idea for the track at first; the lyrics just kind of all came out at once. It started and progressed exactly as the song plays out, from the first lyrics I wrote being "I have no motivation I don’t even wanna try." But yeah, I think the emotions that stick out the most within it to me are definitely the frustration and guilt of wanting to be successful and make your parents happy but not doing it in the way they want you to.
The song speaks to the pressure of feeling like you should already have your life planned out. What do you hope listeners who are in that position take from it?
Marino: I hope that they'll not feel alone and feel like they’re the only one feeling that way. Life is hard and scary growing up, thinking about how expensive things nowadays are house prices, etc. It’s just tough. I think growing up, I could never even imagine being able to pay for rent or food alone, so it was just really scary while also saying, "I don't wanna go to college" because it kinda makes it even harder in your head to support yourself.
“Devil in Disguise” has become such a major moment in your career. What has changed most about you as an artist since then, and what has stayed the same?
Marino: I think I’ve kinda gone back to my roots since then with more music like "Im Doing Fine" and "I Can’t Fit In" I think [“Devil in Disguise”] really was different from my songs up and till then and really changed the next songs I made but “Im Sorry Mom” and my songs going forward really feel better than the whole sins and “Devil in Disguise” period, don’t get me wrong I love what that song has done for my life and the next two songs I made after that but “Im Sorry Mom” in and the music i’m making now is really hitting home and more personable to me.
You have built a large audience while keeping your identity out of the public spotlight. Has that choice allowed you to protect or preserve your relationship with the music?
Marino: Yeah, I think so—honestly, I just don't show my face because I fear I’m too ugly for the spotlight; people would swipe off my vids if the first thing they saw was my face [laughs].
A lot of people have found your songs through social media and then made them part of their own stories. What has surprised you most about watching that connection grow?
Marino: I think what surprises me most is seeing all the covers and edits people make to my songs; it’s such a surreal feeling seeing someone create art with your art.
For people discovering Marino through “I’m Sorry Mom,” what do you hope they understand about where you are creatively right now?
Marino: I think I hope they'll understand that my creativity is in a place of honesty right now, but also experimentation with a different kind of alt/indie style that I’ve fallen in love with recently.
